Adler, Kraig
Professor
Kraig Adler is Professor of Biology at Cornell University. His research interests are in animal behavior (especially the sensory basis of orientation and navigation) and the evolution, systematics, and ecology of amphibians and reptiles. He has served two terms as chairman of his department, Neurobiology and Behavior, and from 1998 to 2005 was Vice Provost for Life Sciences. He has taught Introductory Biology for Majors for many years as well as advanced courses in his department. He is the author or editor of more than 150 titles, including nine books including "Current Research on Amphibians and Reptiles," "Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians, and "Herpetology of China." He served during 1982 to 1989 at the founding Secretary General of the World Congress of Herpetology.
research
research and scholarship focus
My research has focused on the sensory basis of animal orientation and navigation, in particular the use of polarized light and magnetic cues to guide movements. This research primarily has used salamanders as model animals, but research has also been conducted on other amphibians, reptiles, and humans.
research areas
- zoology | collaborative research area (CALS)
international geographic focus
- Central America | trans-national region
- China | country
submitted impact statement
- Effects of weak electrical fields on amphibian behavior and reproduction | 2007 Impact statement
- Effects of weak electric fields on amphibian behavior and reproduction | 2006 Impact statement
- The potential benefits of rodent-feeding snakes | 2005 Impact statement
affiliations
head of
- Neurobiology and Behavior (BIO NB) | Cornell department
faculty appointment in
- Neurobiology and Behavior (BIO NB) | Cornell department
administrative appointment
- Neurobiology and Behavior (BIO NB) | Cornell department
member of graduate field
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | graduate field
- Neurobiology and Behavior | graduate field
teaching
teaching focus
Most of my teaching has been in Introductory Biology for Majors (BS 101-102) which I taught as the sole instructor for 13 years since 1972. I have taught an advanced course in "Animal Orientation and Navigation" and am currently offering a new course, "Academic Skills for Biologists," for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.
background
featured in
- New department chairs appointed in Arts and Sciences | Cornell Chronicle feature
Keywords: amphibians, evolution, herpetology, navigation, orientation, reptiles, sensory physiology, zoology